EVANSTON, IL — The second man arrested in connection with the fatal April 14 triple shooting at Clark Street Beach appeared in court for the first time Thursday in Skokie.
The first man charged over the shooting, which left 18-year-old Jacquis Irby dead and wounded his two 15-year-old brothers, turned himself in last month, authorities said.
Jalen Murray, 20, of the 1600 block of Fowler Avenue, pleaded not guilty at an arraignment Thursday. A judge previously ordered that he remain at Cook County Jail while awaiting trial unless he can come up with the $75,000 cash portion of his bond.
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Tacorey Magitt, 19, of the 7200 block of North Damen Avenue, was ordered to remain behind bars while awaiting trial Thursday after a judge granted the prosecution’s motion to have him self without bail.
The two men have been charged with first-degree murder and two counts of attempted murder. Additional charges such as aggravated battery with a firearm and aggravated unlawful use of a weapon are forthcoming, prosecutors said.
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Murray and Magitt, who knew the Irby family from growing up in the same neighborhood, were together at the home of an associate prior to the shooting, according to Assistant State’s Attorney Mary McMahon.
After they left the home with the associate, Magitt left and retrieved a backpack. When they arrived at the beach, Murray was wearing the backpack. An argument broke out with the Irby brothers, and Magitt’s girlfriend began pushing the brothers before she was pulled away.
“According to witness accounts, no one observed the [Irby brothers] to be armed or to have displayed any weapons,” McMahon said. “Murray, who had been standing separately and off to the side, walked up to the group while holding a firearm in his hands. [Jalen] Murray raised his gun and shot several times at close range towards the victims, striking [Jacquis Irby.]”
Irby, who suffered seven gunshot wounds, fell to the ground a few steps away, McMahon said. He was able to get up and run into a grassy area before collapsing. One of his brothers was hospitalized for several days with wounds to his abdomen and shoulder. Another suffered a graze wound to his leg.
Magitt pointed in the direction Irby was fleeing, ran toward him and fired several shots before running away with his companions, the prosecutor said. Investigators recovered a total of 12 spent .40 caliber shell casings — five fired by a single gun found near where Murray was spotted and seven from another gun found near Magitt’s position, according to McMahon.
A magazine of a different caliber, which appeared to have been dropped and struck by gunfire, was also found at the scene. At Murray’s bond hearing, a prosecutor reportedly suggested police believe one of the victims may have dropped the magazine
McMahon said multiple witnesses identified Magitt and Murray, and video captured the events leading up to the fight, the shooting and the two men charged with murder fleeing the scene. Cell phone data also indicates that the two were present together at the scene of the homicide.
The prosecutor said Magitt was legally responsible for all of Murray’s conduct.
“While [Jalen] Murray opens fire, striking multiple victims and fires five shots, it’s after those shots are fired, while [Jacquis Irby] is fleeing, having already been injured, that [Tacorey Magitt] takes extra steps,” McMahon said. “He turns to a co-offender, he points to the fleeing victim and then he proceeds to pursue that victim, chasing him, firing shots along the way.”
Irby, who left behind a one-year-old son, will be remembered by the Evanston community for his commitment to his family and his passion for basketball, his uncle told the Daily Northwestern.
Magitt’s defense attorney, John Greenlees, said at his bond hearing Thursday that there appeared to be significant evidence that it was Murray, rather than his client, who fatally shot the victims.
Greenlees pointed to the additional firearm found at the scene, though he did not point out that, at the time of the shooting, Irby was awaiting trial on multiple charges alleging that he had illegally been in possession of firearms.
While there might be significant evidence that Magitt was involved in the altercation, Greenlees suggested there was insufficient evidence to grant the prosecution’s motion to hold him without bail.
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Associate Judge Anthony Calabrese said Magitt posed a serious threat to the public.
“While [Magitt] does not have a significant background, given the unusual nature of the allegations here — well, sadly, maybe not as unusual these days as it used to be,” Calabrese said. “But certainly the extraordinary conduct alleged to have been engaged in by [Magitt] and his co-offenders places the community in extraordinary danger.”
Saying the timing of the shots described by the state’s attorney showed a “cold and callous approach,” Calabrese granted the prosecution’s request to deny bail and ordered Magitt not to have any contact with witnesses or their family members.
Magitt is due back in court to be indicted on June 23.
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